City of Livermore Launches Veterans Park Design Showcases Ahead of State of the State Wine Country Luncheon

Planning and engineering staff with the City of Livermore are launching a four-part series of public community design showcases starting Sunday, October 18, and running through Sunday, November 1, to gather resident feedback on the proposed Veterans Park project. Planned near the intersection of Railroad Avenue and South Livermore Avenue in the heart of downtown, the civic green space aims to honor local military service members while expanding pedestrian plaza amenities. Every municipal planning department official and city council member encouraged families from Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and San Ramon to inspect the architectural renderings.

Visitors attending the downtown design pop-ups can also experience The Great Elephant Migration, an outdoor public art installation displaying 30 life-sized Asian elephant sculptures through December 6 at Stockmen's Park at 29 South Livermore Avenue and the Bankhead Theater plaza at 2400 First Street. Handcrafted from invasive lantana camara weeds by Indigenous artisans from Southern India, the intricate sculptures promote wildlife coexistence and ecological restoration. Downtown merchants and arts commission coordinators reported brisk weekend foot traffic from Danville, Alamo, and Walnut Creek residents touring the sculptures.

On the legislative calendar, the Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce at 2157 First Street is finalizing preparations for its third annual State of the State Wine Country Luncheon on Thursday, October 29. Priced at $90 for chamber members and $100 for non-members, the policy forum will feature bipartisan updates from State Senator Jerry McNerney, Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, and United States Representative Aisha Wahab. Business leaders and regional water district directors expect discussions to center on Tri-Valley transportation infrastructure, commercial innovation, and state budget priorities.

In parallel with municipal and legislative initiatives, the nonprofit Livermore Valley Education Foundation announced the appointment of Michelle Dawson as its inaugural Director of Development and Community Engagement. Having previously served as community engagement director for the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, Dawson will work with the foundation board and school superintendent to expand classroom grant funding for STEM, music, and visual arts programs. Educational leaders emphasized that strengthened philanthropic partnerships directly benefit more than 13,000 public school students across the valley.

Residents can review the complete Veterans Park showcase schedule at livermoreca.gov or contact Livermore City Hall at 1052 South Livermore Avenue by calling (925) 960-4000. Registration for the October 29 State of the State luncheon is available through the Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce at livermorechamber.org, while school foundation grant information is posted at lvef.org. Public comment cards collected during the Veterans Park showcases will be compiled for an upcoming planning commission review.